Synchronously operated punch press



July 4, 1933.. G, LELAND 1,916,380

SYNCHRONOUSLY OPERATED PUNCH PRESS Filed Nov. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1\3 //V 1/15 N 70/? yGEOEGE H. L ELAND.

1 \l K. N h/IsATTOR/VEK Patented July 4, 1933 ns-arse stares PATENT@FFlQlZ GEORGE H. LELAND, OF DAYTON, (BI-ITO, AESIGNOR OF ONE-Him? TOTHE LELAND ELECTRIC COMPANY, DAYTON, 83-110, A CGRPQB-ATION OF OHIOSYNCEBGIIOU'SLY' OFEBATED PUNCH PRESS Application filed. November 19,1931. Serial No. 576,025.

This invention relates to punch press mechanism and more particularly tosuch a mechanism which is adapted to operate progressively on a givenportion of a strip of material fed through the same. Heretofore when thenumber of progressive operations was such that they could not beconveniently performed on single press it hasbeen customary to perform apart of the operations on one press and to subsequently convey thestrips which have been so operated upon to a second and independentpress where additional operations were performed thereon. This not onlyinvolves much additional time and labor but difficulty is oftenexperienced in properly alining the strip with the'dies of the secondpress.' One object of the present invention is to provide a plurality ofpresses equipped with progressive dies and means for operating thepresses in synchronism to feed a strip through the same and to performprogressive operations on given portions of the strip.

A further object of the invpntion is to provide such a plurality ofpresses with means for conducting the strips from one press to asucceeding press in proper relation to that succeeding press. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of presseswith means for conducting the strips from one press to a succeedingpress which will permit of the relative movement of different portionsof the strip to aline the same with the dies.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide such a mechanismwith-means to properly center the forward end of the strip with the diesof a succeeding press as it is introduced into that press. v

,Qther objectsof the invention will appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of two presses,one of which is partially in section, arranged in tandem and connectedone with the other for synchronous operation; Fig. 2 is a sectionaldetail view of the conducting chute: Fig. 3 is a plan view of theconducting chute, partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a planview of the strip centering device; and Fig. 5 is a planview, partly broken away, of a strip of material showing the operationsof the successive dies thereon.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as applied to two presses 'ofa well known typearranged in tandem but it will be understood that this invention maytake various forms and may be applied to two or more presses of variouskinds.

The mechanism here illustrated. comprises two punch presses, 10 and 11,each of which is complete .in itself and consists of a bed plate12,1nounted on'the main frame, and a ram 18 movably mounted on thatframe for movement toward and from the-bed plate, the die members-beingcarried respectively by the bed plate and the ram. The two presses areoperated in synchronism from a common electric motor 14 which isconnected by belts or chains 15 with drive wheels 16. The drive wheelsare connected with the respective rams through the usual drivingmechanism, which embodies a spring retracted clutch. This clutch iscontrolled by a foot lever 17 which, when depressed, serves to connectthe driving wheel with the ram and which, when elevated, releases theclutch to permit the separation of the elements thereof to interrupt theconnection between the driving wheel and the ram. This connectingmechanism forms no part of the present invention and as it is of a wellknown type it is not here shown in detail. Ordinarily the clutchcontrolling lever 1'7 is held in its depressed position, to maintain theconnection between the driving wheel. and the ram, by means of amanually operated latch but, in the present device, I have substitutedfor the latch an electromagnet 18 the armature 19 of whichis carried bythe lever 17 and will, when the magnet is energized, retain the lever inits depressed position, after it has once been moved to that position,thereby permitting the automatic control of the press.

Each press is provided with a feeding-in device which in the presentinstance com prises a lower roller 20 and an upper roller 21, and afeeding-out or ejecting device which shown as consisting of a lowerroller 29. and an upper roller 23. These feed rollers are actuated 'by arack bar 2d, the respective end portions of which mesh with pinions 25secured, respectively, to the lower rollers 20 and 22 by means of pawland ratchet mechanism, not shown, which will cause the rollers to beactuated when the rack bar is moved in one direction but will permit thesame to remain stationary when the rack bar moves in the otherdirection. The rack bar is actuated by a rock arm 26 having a slot 27through which extends a crank pin 28 driven from the operatingmechanism, and, in the present instance, irried by a cam dish 29. Inorder that the strip may be shifted to aline the same with the dies theupper rollers of each pair are mounted for movement into and out ofengagement with the strip, this movement being so controlled that therollers will be moved to their inoperative positions as the ram movesdownwardly and will be movedinto their operative positions as the rammoves upwardly. As here shown, each upper roller is mounted in a pivotedsupporting device cmnprising an arm 30, and the arms of the twosupporting devices extend inwardly, one toward the other, and areconnected by links 31 with levers 32 pivotally mounted between theirends on the frame of the press above the cam disk 29. The inner ends ofthe levers are arranged for engagement by a plunger 3;) which isactuated by the cam 29, the cam being arranged to impart movement to therollers at the proper time with relation to the movements of the ram.The feeding rollers and their operating mechanism are of a well knowntype and form no part of the present invention. The strips may bedelivered to the feeding rollers, and the operation of the rollersthereon controlled, in any suitable manner, but the present mechanism iswell adapted for use with the automatic strip delivery mechanism shownin my copcnding application filed November 9, 1931. erial No. 573,785,and ith the feed. roller controlling mechanism shown in my copendingapplication filed November 16, 1931., Serial No. 575,324..

In the arrangement here illustrated the two presses are arranged intandem and each is provided with two or more progressive dies, theseveral dies being adapted to operate progressively on the same portionof the strip of material. After the dies of the first press haveoperated on the strip it is conducted to the second press and theportion thereof which has been operated upon is alined successively withthe dies of the second press so that the strips are fed progressivelythrough the two presses and the several, operations completed with butone handling of the strip. The two presses are so arranged with relationone to the other that a strip of normal length will be engaged by thefeeding-in rollers of the second press before it passes beyond thefeedingcut rollers of the first press. The

strip must be presented to the second press in such relation to the diesthereof that the portion thereof which has been operated upon by thedies of the first press will be in substantial alinement with the diesof the second press, that is, it must be so nearly in alinement with thedies of the second press that the usual alining devices will properlyposition the same with relation thereto. Any suitable means may beprovided for conducting the strips from the first press to the secondpress which will cause the same to be properly presented to the secondpress and which will permit of such movement of the strip as isnecessary to accurately aline it with the dies of the second press. Topermit of the alinement of the forward end of the strip with relation tothe dies of the second press while the rear end of the strip is held bythe alining devices of the first press it is necessary that the endportions of the strip should be capable of relative movement and inorder to permit of this movement I have, in the present machine,provided the conducting means in the form of a chute 34 supported at itsrespective ends by the two presses. The front end of this chute isarranged to receive the strip from the feeding-out rollers of the firstpress and the rear end of the chute is arranged to deliver the strip tothe feedingin rollers of the second press. The upper and lower walls ofthe chute are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than thethickness of the strip and the intermediate portion of the chute iscurved or bowed downwardly. Consequently when the forward end of a stripis engaged by the alining devices of the second press that portion mayhave movement toward or from the rear end of the 7 Strip, this relativemovement of the forward portion of the strip serving merely to slightlyincrease or decrease the curvature of that portion of the strip which isthen in the chute. The construction of the chute will also permit of aslight lateral or twisting movementof the strip. The chute is capable ofinitial adjustment to properly locate the strips lengthwise withrelation to the dies and to accommodate the same to different arrangevments of dies on the two presses. In the con struction here shown thischute has sufficient flexibility to permit the curvature thereof to bevaried, thus increasing or decreasing the length of that portion of thestrip which lies between the dies of the two presses. For this purposethe body of the chute is anchored to the first press, as shown at 35,and the rear end of the chute is slidably mounted in a guideway 36 inthe second press. Preferably that portion of the chute which extendsinto the guideway 36 has secured thereto a plate 37 and this plate andmeans are provided for adjusting this plate and the end of the chute inthe guideway. In the present construct-ion Ihave employed a turn buckleadjustment which comprises a screw 38 having its end portions threadedin opposite directions and inserted in lugs 39 and 40, securedrespectively to the plate 37 and to that portion of the second press inwhich the guideway 36 is formed, it being understood of course that thelug 40 is stationary and that the rotationof the screw will move the lug39 toward or from the same.

it is also desirable that some means should be provided for positioningthe forward end of the strip laterally with relation to the dies of thesecond press, that is, for centering the strip. For this purpose I havemounted on the second press, adjacent to the feeding-in rollers, acentering device which comprises ward movement being limited by stops 45and 46. In the present instance, these stops are carried. by the arms43' and 44, respectively, and contact with the adjacent edges of thechute. Preferably means, such as set screws 45a and 46s, are provided toadjust the normal positions of the studs. The yieldable means which actson the studs is of such a character that greater pressure will be exert-7 ed on one stud than on the other, so that when strip is introducedbetween the two studs that stud which is subjected to the lighterpressure will yield and the other stud will remain stationary toproperly locate the strip, but should the strip be curved edgewise thelast mentioned. stud will yield to permit the passage of the curvedportion of the strip,.which travels in a straight line due to the actionof the alining devices on the presses. In the present constructionthe'two arms are connected one to the other by a coiled spring 47 whichis connectedwith the two arms at different distances from the axesthereof, thus causing a greater pressure to be exerted on the one armthan on the other.

As here shown, the spring is connected with the arm 43 at a distancefrom its axis sulficiently greater than the distance which the other endof the spring is spaced from the of the arm 44 to cause the pressureexerted on the arm 43 to be substantially twice that exerted on the arm44.

.lVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications Ti may occurto a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: w

1. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto operate progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, eachpress having a feeding-in device and a feeding-out device, the feedingindevice of the succeeding press being arranged to engage the strip beforethe rear end thereof has passed the feeding-out device of the firstpress, and means for operating said presses in synchronism.

2. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act "progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, meansfor operating said presses in synchronism, and means for conducting saidstrip from one press to succeeding press and for so supporting saidstrip that the end portions thereof may have limited movement relativelyone to the other.

3. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having-diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, meansfor feeding a strip through said presses, and means arranged betweensaid presses to support a strip in a transversely curved position as itpasses from one press to another and to permit a limited verticalmovement of the intermediate portion of said strip.

4. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, meansfor feeding a strip through said presses, means arranged between saidpresses to support a strip in a transversely curved position as itpasses from one press to: another and to permit a limited verticalmovement of the intermediate portion of said strip, and means to adjustsaid supporting means to varythe curvature imparted to said strip.

5. A punch press. mechanism comprising a plurality of separate presseshaving dies to act progressively on a given portion of a strip ofmaterial, each press having a feeding-in device and a feeding-outdevice, a chute arranged to receive a strip from the feedingout deviceof one press and to guide said strip to the feeding-in device of asucceeding press, and means for operating said presses in synchronism.

6. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, eachpress having a feeding-in device and a feeding-out device, a chutearranged to receive a strip from the feedingout device of one press andto guide said stri 3 to the feeding-in device of a succeeding pres saidchute having upper and lower wall. spaced apart a distance greater thant thickness of the strip and having a transversely curved intermediateportion, and means for operatng said presses in synchromsm.

7. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, eachpress having a feedingdn device and a feeding-out device, a chutearranged to receive a strip from the feeding-out device of one press andto guide said strip to the feeding-in device of a succeeding press, saidchute having upper and lower walls spaced apart a distance greater thanthe thick ness of the strip and having a transversely curvedintermediate portion, and means for adjusting one end of said chute tovary the curvature of said transverse portion.

8. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, means toconduct a strip of material from one press to a succeeding press,yieldable means arranged near the discharge end of said conducting meansto center said strip with relation to the dies of the second press, and,means for operating said presses in synchronism.

9. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progrcssively on a given portion of a strip of material, meansfor-operating said presses in synchronism, means for conducting a stripfrom one press to a succeeding press, a strip centering device arrangednear the discharge end of said conducting means and comprising spacedguides mounted for movement toward and from each other, stops to limitthe movement of said guides one toward the other, and spring means tohold said guides against said stops, said spring means being arranged toexert a greater pressure on one guide than on the other.

10. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses havingdies to act progressively on'a given portion of a strip of material,means for operating said presses in synchronism, a chute to conduct astrip from one press to a succeeding press, said chute having openingstherethrough near the discharge end thereof, studs mounted in saidopenings for movement transversely to said chute, and yieldable meanstending to move said studs one toward the other, said yieldable meansbeing arranged to exert a greater pressure on one stud than on the otherstud.

11. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of pre. es havingdies to act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material,means for operating said presses in synchronism, a chute to conduct astrip from one press to a succeeding press, saidchute having openingstherethrough near the discharge end thereof, arms pivotally mountedbeneath said chute and extending lengthwise thereof, studs carried bythe respective arms and extending through said openings into said chute,stops to limit the inward movement of said arms, and a spring connectedwith said arms'at difiierent distances from the axes thereof.

12. Apunch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, meansfor operating said presses in synchronism, a chute to conduct a. stripfrom one press to a succeeding press, said chute having openingstherethrough near the discharge end thereof, arms pivotally mountedbeneath said chute and extending lengthwise thereof, studs carried bythe respective arms and extending through said openings into said chute,stops rigidly secured to said arms and arranged to engage the respectiveedges of said chute to limit the inward movement of the arms, andyieldable means acting on said arms to hold said stops normally in engagement with said chute, said yieldable means being arranged to exertgreater pressure on one arm than on the other. 18. A punch pressmechanism comprising a plurality of presses having dies to actprogressively on a given portion of a strip of material and havingseparate feeding means, said presses and dies being located at fixeddistances one from the other, a guideway through which said strip ofmaterial is progressed from the first press and die to the second pressand die, and means whereby the length of said guideway may be varied tocause said strip to properly register with each of said dies.

14. A punch press mechanism comprising two stationary presses havingdies to act progressively on a strip of material and having separatestrip feeding means, a guideway leading from thefirst press to thesecond press, said strip of material being arranged to receive at equalintervals duplicate imprints from the first press and die, thence toprogress through said guideway to the second press and die and to therereceive further imprints, said guideway being of a length greater thanthe straight line distance between the two dies and being adjustable tocause correct registration of the imprints'on said strip with both diessimultaneously.

15. A punch press mechanism comprising two dies mounted in separatestationary presses to operate progressively on strips of material, oneof said dies being adapted to produce duplicate imprints at equallyspaced intervals on said strips, one after another, separate feedingmeans for said presses cooperating to cause said strips to ad Vance oneafter another to the other of said dies, and means to conduct saidstrips from one press to the other and to cause said imprints toregister correctly with the succeeding die to receive additionalimprints therefrom.

16. A punch press mechanism comprising plurality of presses having diesto act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material, eachpress having separate means for feeding strips through the same insuccession, means for operating said presses in synchronism, and meansfor conducting the successive strips from the feeding means of one pressto the feeding means of a succeeding press.

17. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses havingdies to act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material,each press having separate means for feeding strips through the same insuccession, means for operating said presses in synchronism, means forconducting the successive strips from the feeding means of one press tothe feeding means of a succeeding press, and for maintaining each stripin such relation to said presses that it will be properly positionedwith relation to the dies of the second press.

18. A punch press mechanism comprising a plurality of presses havingdies to act progressively on a given portion of a strip of material,each press having separate means for I feeding strips through the samein succession, means for operating said presses in synchronism, and aguideway to conduct the suc cessive strips from the die of one press tothe die of a succeeding press, said dies being located a fixed distanceone from the other and said'guideway being of a length greater than thestraight line distance between said dies.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

GEORGE H. LELAND.

